Wilfred Okiche

with additional report from Lekan Olarenwaju

The full nominations list for the 8th season of the African Academy Awards (AMAA) has been announced and as always, Nigerian films and actors do not disappoint to represent as they make a strong showing this year too.

Sara Bletcher’s ‘Otelo’ Burning leads with 13 nominations including Best Film. The Lancelot Imasuen costume film, ‘Adesuwa’ also leads Nigeria’s assault with a whopping 10 nominations including Best film, Best director and Best Nigerian film. Other Nigerian films with an impressive showing include Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Phone Swap’, ‘Unwanted guest’ and the Nigerian/South African collabo ‘Man on ground.’

The Best actress field had some of Nollywood’s finest listed; Nse Ikpe Etim (‘Mr & Mrs’), Rita Dominic (‘Shattered’) and Uche Jombo (‘Damage’). However, they will receive stiff competition from the Ghanaian actresses Yvonne Okoro (‘Single Six’) and last year’s winner, Ama K. Abebrese (‘Ties that Bind’) also in the same category .

Chet Anekwe (‘Unwanted Guest’), Wale Ojo (‘Phone Swap’) and Hakeem-Kae Kazeem represent us in the Best actor category while Hafiz Oyetoro (‘Phone Swap’) and newcomer, Okechukwu Uzoeshi are named in the Best supporting category.

The awards will be held on 22 April in Lagos, Nigeria in a ceremony hosted by Heroes star, Jimmy Jean-Louis.

See complete list of nominees:

AMAA 2012 Nomination List

 AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Short Film

1. JAMAA – Uganda
2. Look Again – Kenya
3. Maffe Tiga – Guinea
4. Braids On Bald Head – Nigeria
5. Hidden Life – South Africa
6.  Mwansa The Great – Zimbabwe
7. Chumo – Tanzania
8. The Young Smoker – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Documentary

1. African Election – Nigeria/Germany

2. Beyond The Deadly Pit – Rwanda

3. Awa Ogbe: An African Adventure –Algeria

4. Dear Mandella – South Africa

5. White & Black; Crime And Colour – Tanzania

6. The Niger Delta Struggle – Ghana

7. There Is Nothing Wrong With My Uncle –Nigeria

8. How Much Is Too Much – Kenya

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Diaspora Feature

1. Toussanat Louverture – France

2. Ghetta Life – Jamaica

3. High Chicago– Canada

4. Elza – Guadelupe

5. Better Must Come – Jamaica

6. Kinyanrwanda – USA

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Diaspora Documentary

1. The Education Of Auma Obama – Germany

2. White Wash – USA

3. Almendron Mi Corazon – Guadelupe

4. All Me: The Life And Times Of Winfred Hubert – USA

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Diaspora (Short Film)

1. John Doe – USA

2. White Sugar In A Black Pot – USA

3. The Lost One – USA

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Animation

1. The Legend Of Ngog Hills – (Kenya)

2. Oba – (Nigeria)

3. Climate Change Is Real – (Kenya)

4. Egu – (South Africa)

5. Chomoka – (Kenya)

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Film By An African Living Abroad

1. Mystery Of Birds – USA/Nigeria

2. Housemates – UK/Nigeria

3. Ben Kross – Italy/Nigeria

4. Paparezzi Eye In The Dark – USA/Nigeria/Ghana

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Production Design

1. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

2. Phone Swap – Nigeria

3. Otelo Burning – South Africa

4. Adesuwa – Nigeria

5. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Costume Design

1. The Captain Of Nakara –

2. Adesuwa – Nigeria

3. Rugged Priest – Kenya

4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

5. Queens Desire –

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Make-Up

1. Rugged Priest – Kenya

2. State Research Bureau – Uganda

3. Adesuwa – Nigeria

4. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

5. Shattered – Kenya

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Soundtrack

1. Otelo Burning – South Africa

2. Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

3. Adesuwa – Nigeria

4. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

5. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Visual Effects

1. Behind The Mask –

2. Somewhere In Africa – Ghana

3. Adesuwa – Nigeria

4. State Research Bureau – Uganda

5. Otelo Burning – South Africa

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Sound

1. State Of Violence – South Africa

2. Otelo Burning – South Africa

3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

4. Man On Ground – South Africa

5. Algiers Murder – South Africa

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Cinematography

1. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

2. Otelo Burning – South Africa

3. Rugged Priest – Kenya

4. Masquerades – Ghana

5. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Editing

1. Algiers Murder – South Africa

2. Man On Ground – South Africa/Nigeria

3. Unwanted Guest  – Nigeria

4. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

5. Otelo Burning  – South Africa

6. Alero’s Symphony – Nigeria

AMAA 2012 Prize for Achievement In Screenplay

1. Ties That Bind – Ghana

2. Mr & Mrs – Nigeria

3. How To Steal 2 Million – South Africa

4. Otelo Burning – South Africa

5. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria

6. Two Brides And A Baby – Nigeria

 AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Nigerian Film

1. Unwanted Guest – Nigeria

2. Family On Fire – Nigeria

3. Alero’s Symphony

4. Adesuwa

5. Phone Swap

 AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Film In An African Language

1. Chumo (Tanzania)

2. State Of Violence (South Africa)

3. Family On Fire (Nigeria)

4. Otelo Burning (South Africa)

5. Asoni (Cameroun)

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Child Actor

1. Rahman Junior Bande (Greg) – Behind The Mask

2. Tsepang Mohlomi (Ntwe) – Otelo Burning

3. Reginna Danies (Jenny) – Bank Job

5. Benjamin Abemigisha & Racheal Nduhukire (Derick And Margaret) – JAMAA

6. Ayinla O. Abdulaheem – Zr-7

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Young/Promising Actor

1. Neo Ntatleno (Oj) – State Of Violence

2. Ivie Okujaye (Alero) – Alero’s Symphony

3. Iyobosa Olaye (Adesuwa) – Adesuwa

4. Martha Ankomah –Somewhere In Africa

5. Thomas Gumede& Sihle Xaba – Otelo Burning

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Actor In A Supporting Role

1. Rapuldna Seiphemo (Twala) – How to Steal 2 Million

2. Fano Mokoena – Man on Ground

3. Hafiz Oyetoro – Phone Swap

4. Okechukwu Uzoesi – Two Brides and a Baby

5. Godfrey Theobejane – 48

6. Lwanda Jawar –Rugged Priest

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Actress In A Supporting Role

1. Terry Phetto –How To Steal 2 Million

2. Ebbe Bassey –Ties That Bind

3. Empress Njamah –Bank Job

4. Ngozi Ezeonu –Adesuwa

5. Thelma Okoduwa –Mr & Mrs

6. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – Ties That Bind

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Actor In A Leading Role

1. Menzi Ngubane – How to Steal 2 Million

2. Majid Micheal – Somewhere In Africa

3. Chet Anekwe – Unwanted Guest

4. Jafta Mamabolo – Otelo Burning

5. Karabo Lance – 48

6. Wale Ojo – Phone Swap

7. Hakeem Kae-Kazim – Man on Ground

 AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Actress In A Leading Role

1. Nse Ikpe Etim – Mr & Mrs

2. Yvonne Okoro – Single Six

3. Ama K. Abebrese – Ties That Bind

4. Rita Dominic – Shattered

5. Uche Jombo – Damage

6. Millicent Makheido – 48

7. Kudzai Sevenzo-Nyarai – Playing Warriors

AMAA 2012 Prize for Best Director

1. Adesuwa – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun

2. Ties That Bind – Leila Djansi

3. Rugged Priest – Bob Nyanja

4. How to Steal 2 Million – Charlie Vundla

5. State Of Violence – Khalo Matabane

6. Man on Ground – Akin Omotoso

7. Otelo Burning – Sara Bletcher

AMAA 2011 Prize for Best Film

1. State Of Violence (South Africa)

2. Adesuwa (Nigeria)

3. Otelo Burning (South Africa)

4. Rugged Priest (Kenya)

5. How to Steal 2 Million (South Africa)

6. Ties That Bind (Ghana)

7. Man on Ground (South Africa/NIGERIA)